Grandma's Stouffer-Style Chicken and Rice Bake
There is nothing better than a casserole when you are pressed for time but still want to deliver a nutritious and delicious meal to your family. With this Grandma's Stouffer-Style Chicken and Rice Bake recipe you can quickly make a delectable casserole that will please the pickiest of eaters and satisfy the largest of appetites. With only a few simple ingredients you can have a warm dinner on the table for your family. Try this hearty casserole recipe tonight for a meal that is sure to please your entire family. This recipe makes enough to serve a crowd, so it is perfect for potlucks, or if you want to freeze the leftovers for quick and easy future meal. This warm, comfort food casserole has a delicious crispy topping and makes an excellent side dish or even main dish.
Notes
- This recipe makes enough for a big crowd, or for baking and serving later – or sharing with a neighbor who would appreciate a hot meal delivered.
- You can use two large 9x11 foil roasting pans or 3 8 x8 size pans.
- If you wish to use cooked chicken from a purchased rotisserie chicken, you can skip the first step. Simply shred 4 cups of meat from the cooked chicken, discarding skin and bones. In that case, you will need a total of 2 ½ cups water for making the rice instead of using some of the flavorful broth resulting from cooking the chicken, or use 2 ½ cups canned broth.
- We used a converted rice - Instant Whole Grain Brown Rice; if you choose to use a different type of rice, simply follow package directions to make 4 cups cooked rice of any kind.
If you liked this casserole recipe, you might also enjoy our Homemade Boston Market Squash Casserole.
Yields2 9 x 11-inch Casseroles
Cooking Time40 min
Cooking MethodCasserole
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 3 cups instant whole grain brown rice (see note)
- 2 1/2 cups water or broth
- 1 tablespoon olive oil, divided
- 1/2 cup chopped onion
- 2 carrots, finely diced
- 1 cup frozen peas
- 1 (18-ounce) can cream of mushroom soup
- 1 (10.5-ounce) can cream of chicken soup
- 1 (10.5-ounce ) can cheddar cheese soup
- 2 cups milk
- 8 ounces shredded cheddar or three-cheese blend
- salt and pepper
- 1 1/2 cup Panko style bread crumbs
- 2 tablespoons butter, melted
- 1/2 tablespoon paprika
Instructions
-
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray baking dishes or disposable pans with cooking spray.
-
In a 3 quart saucepan, place the chicken and cover with water. Lightly season with salt and bring to a boil, then lower heat to a simmer and cook for 20 minutes or until chicken is just barely cooked (it will finish in the oven). Remove chicken and dice or shred with two forks you should have about 4 cups.
-
Strain the liquid and measure it. Add additional water, if necessary, to make 2 cups. Place back into the same pot and bring to a boil. Add the rice, lower the heat and cover. Cook for 5 minutes, then turn off heat and allow to steam in the covered pan an additional 5 minutes while assembling the remaining ingredients.
-
In a large non-stick skillet over medium high heat, place half the olive oil and the chicken pieces. Stir and cook just until chicken begins to brown on the edges. Remove the chicken and set aside and in the same skillet, place the remaining oil and the onion and carrots. Continue to cook and stir about 4 minutes until carrots begin to soften and onion becomes translucent. Add peas and remove from the heat.
-
In a large bowl, combine the three soups, the milk and the cheese. Gently stir in the chicken, the rice and the vegetables. Add salt and pepper to taste, and spoon into prepared casseroles.
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Stir the bread crumbs, melted butter and paprika together and sprinkle evenly over the casseroles.
-
Bake for 40-45 minutes, or to freeze, let mixture cool completely in the pans. Wrap entire pan with plastic wrap and then wrap with foil. Label and freeze. When ready to bake, thaw in the refrigerator overnight and then bring to room temperature before unwrapping and baking as above.
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AuntKarolyn
Oct 28, 2018
This recipe for Grandma's Stouffer-Style Chicken and Rice Bake is absolutely great. The recipe is well written and easy to follow with hints and tips along the way. The casserole is creamy and cheesy with a little crunch on top with the breadcrumbs. I really liked the authors suggestions about using different size pans. I used three 8x8 pans and was able to freeze one for another day, and gave one to my neighbor who wasn't feeling well and really appreciated having dinner delivered.
Julia L
Jun 25, 2015
My favorite part was the breadcrumb topping - it gave the casserole a nice chewy texture. Even though I only had a few bites, this casserole was super filling and delicious.
nashmeow
Jun 25, 2015
The texture of the casserole was good, and I really liked the topping; however, I think I'd like to add a bit of hot sauce or something to give the base of it a bit more kick. Overall, this casserole is worth making, just needs a tweak or two to make it really fabulous.
valshot357 0606981
Nov 10, 2015
Thanks. After reading the recipe, it sounded great, but a bit...anyway, I'll try the"kick". I'm sure it will be a hit. I need a home run.
jthelander1231
Jun 25, 2015
You can't really go wrong with a chicken and rice casserole. It seemed like it'd be an especially good recipe for a cold or rainy day -- the essence of comfort food.
JennyBee1
Jun 25, 2015
Loved this! Super easy to make and the flavors were delicious. I can't wait to enjoy it again today when I have some leftovers!
Emily Michelle
Jun 25, 2015
This was a delicious chicken and rice casserole. It was really creamy and I loved the crispy breadcrumb topping.
shelfconsciouskati e
Jun 25, 2015
I'm not a huge fan of chicken and rice casseroles, but I enjoyed this one. I might even make it without the chunks of chicken next time.
amatlin
Jun 24, 2015
This dish was the ultimate comfort food. The flavors reminded me of chicken pot pie! Yum!
EmilyS
Jun 24, 2015
Delicious, creamy dish. I enjoyed the texture of the topping. It was nice and crispy, a good contrast to the rest of the dish.
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